Gasconade-Osage County Health Department-Health Education

Health Education, prevention, and health promotion programs are offered through the health department. We strive to reach all age groups and would like the opportunity to share public health messages throughout Gasconade and Osage counties.

Community Education Programs

School Health Education Programs

              Safety Education

              Nutrition and Food Safety Education

              Dental Health Education

              Sun Safety

              Tobacco and Other Drugs

              Infection Control

              Other Health Education Topics

Daycare Consultation

Worksite Wellness/Community Health Screenings

Community Education Programs

Child Safety Seat Inspections – 4 out of 5 child safety seats are used incorrectly. Could yours be one of them? The Health Department offers child safety seat inspections by appointment. Contact the Health Department location nearest you.

Car Seat Education/Distribution – available for residents unable to purchase a child safety seat, limited to one per child. Education of MO state laws regarding seat belt and child safety seat use, includes watching a short video. Health Department staff will work with you to help you install the child safety seat correctly.

Child Care Course – Appropriate for teens, this is a 3-4 class hour education program which includes a pre and post test. The program educates students on responsibilities of a baby sitter, how to care for infants, playing with children, behavior and discipline, safety, and emergency care.

Recreation/Leisure – Helps to understand the difference between recreation and leisure, discusses the 6 ingredients to a healthy leisure lifestyle, importance of each of these components and introduces activities to enhance one’s lifestyle.

Public Health – Presentation defines public health, what the local health department does, how to access services, information on some of our greatest needs as a community, as well as information on how to enhance our programs and services.

Community Profiles – Every three years the Health Department completes a community assessment for Gasconade County, updates to the assessment are made each year. This presentation offers information regarding the current health status of our community, discusses current health topics, and gives statistics that help to define our greatest needs as well as assets. Presented with Power Point Slides to any group or organization.

Bloodborne Pathogens – a Power Point presentation discussion communicable vs. non-communicable diseases, diseases which are considered reportable, animal bites, vaccine preventable diseases, as well as diseases which are spread by blood and other body fluids. Discussion of using hand washing, and good personal hygiene.

Skin Disorders - a Power Point presentation that includes pictures of the most common skin disorders. This presentation is appropriate for nursing home staff as an inservice and includes a post quiz.

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School Health Education Programs

SAFETY EDUCATION

Risk Watch – Offered to 2nd or 3rd grade students in each school district and parochial schools. Includes four 30 minute classroom sessions and one follow up session completed 1-3 months following the fourth session. Has been utilized across the nation. Includes pre-post testing.

Think First – for elementary grades 1,2,3. safety education curriculum. Video presentation, demonstrations and worksheets.

Safety for Kids – Designed for upper elementary 3-5. PowerPoint presentation on traffic safety. Discusses traffic crashes, bicycle safety, pedestrian safety, school bus safety, and car safety. Was developed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Includes Missouri data.

Young Drivers – a PowerPoint presentation designed for those individuals who will be driving soon. Discusses crash stats, causes of crashes by young drivers, speeding, alcohol involvement, levels of impairment, safety belts, and the graduated drivers license law. Developed by the Missouri Division of Hwy Safety.

Teen Driving – designed for those individuals who will be driving soon, this presentation includes education using a Jeopardy game format, covers areas that are tested on driver’s exam

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NUTRITION AND FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION

Nutrition programs for all age groups are available upon request.

Nutrition Education – program for 5^th –8^th grades. Includes education of food pyramid, portion sizes, and a food jeopardy game.

Portion Presentation - "Putting it into Perspective" - 6th grade through adults. This presentation uses food models as an example; also, test tubes are used to represent salt, sugar, fat and fiber in certain food items as a means to compare food choices.

Cholesterol Presentation – This program designed for H.S. students educates on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, causes of high cholesterol, good vs. bad cholesterol, testing, as well as treatment. Actual testing of cholesterol may be available depending upon scheduling, parent permission letters, and size of classes.

Food Safety Education – Available upon request.

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DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

Dental Presentations available at all grade levels preschool through 5th grade. Discuss the structure of teeth, brushing, flossing, provides information on fluoride and sealants, and consequences of not caring for your teeth.

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SUN SAFETY

Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap - sun safety education for preschool through 2nd grade. Includes a short video presentation and demonstration of ways to protect our skin in the sun.

SunWise School Program – a national program for use with young children, promotes sun safety by teaching children and caregivers to protect themselves from overexposure to UV radiation. Includes activity sheets and coloring sheets.

Skin Cancer Jeopardy – upper elementary through middle school This presentation educates students about the types of skin cancers, treatment and prevention in a fun and entertaining way.

SunGuard Sun Safety program for middle school students. Available at www.sunguardman.org. Includes quizzes/puzzles and education material.

Why the Concern About Skin Cancer? – adaptable for any age upper elementary through high school Power Point presentation that discusses facts about Skin Cancer, major types, treatments, risk factors, how to performs self examination, and ways to protect yourself.

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TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS

Tobacco presentations have also been made for elementary age children upon request.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke – a PowerPoint presentation appropriate for High School or adults, could be toned down for middle school. Discusses alternative names, health effects of cigarette smoking, health effects of ETS, health effects of ETS on children, information regarding responses from the tobacco industry, public concern, and being assertive about your rights as a non-smoker.

Tar Wars – a Tobacco education program from the American Academy of Family Physicians designed specifically for 4^th and 5^th grade students. Is a national program, includes a poster contest with national recognition. Schools across the nation participate.

Chewing Tobacco – a PowerPoint presentation appropriate for 5^th – 12^th grades. This presentation discusses facts and information about chewing tobacco including the chemicals, explains the graduation theory, marketing, and the power of addiction. Includes some pictures of mouth cancer. Additionally discusses cessation and the 7 steps to recovery.

Tobacco & Youth – Appropriate for middle school students PowerPoint presentation discusses advertising, influence of media, costs of using tobacco products, chemicals found in tobacco smoke, Environmental tobacco smoke exposure statistics, and cessation.

TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) – Late Middle and early High School. A peer training, youth empowerment program that incorporates education of all aspects of tobacco use into a daylong training program. Students are divided into groups to design their own tobacco education program to be presented to elementary age students. Takes someone from the school to be committed and willing to participate in assisting students in planning presentations. Bus transportation is also the responsibility of the school.

Project Alert – Considered one of the BEST PRACTICE Prevention programs for alcohol and drug prevention. Designed and tested for 7^th and 8^th grades, has been used in 6^th as well. The problem: it is a 14-lesson program. Consider doing parts of the program. Core lessons include: Consequences of smoking cigarettes and marijuana, drinking consequences, pressures to use drugs, review and practice of resistance skills, smoking cessation, benefits of not using drugs. Incorporates use of video, paper/pencil activities, role-playing, and group work.

Club Drugs – a PowerPoint presentation appropriate for small groups of adults interested in learning more about the newer types of drugs. Shows different names, how the drug is taken, what the “high” feels like, physical and emotional effects, and risks of each. Drugs discussed include Ecstasy, GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine, Inhalants, Sherms, Methamphetamine, and LSD.

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INFECTION CONTROL

Handwashing/Hygiene – Programs for K-5^th grade. Education program on hand washing and hygiene. Includes use of glogerm light. Covers tooth brushing, washing our bodies, and grooming activities appropriate for age group. Short video presentation. Students must have access to a sink with soap and towels to “wash their germs”.

Hygiene Presentation - Powerpoint presentation and demonstration for upper elementary through 8th grade on deodorants, soaps, acne, grooming, etc. Supplies are brought into the classroom and discussion regarding which ones are best takes place.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Other Traveling Germs – Appropriate for 4^th and 5^th grades.Ten minute video presentation accompanied by discussion of ways to stay healthy, the difference between communicable and non-communicable, examples of each, and practicing healthy behaviors.

Bloodborne Pathogens – Appropriate for middle school a Power Point presentation discussion communicable vs. non-communicable diseases, diseases which are considered reportable, animal bites, vaccine preventable diseases, as well as diseases which are spread by blood and other body fluids. Discussion of using hand washing, and good personal hygiene. STD/HIV are introduced but not discussed in detail.

Sexual Transmitted Infections – Appropriate for H.S. Discusses the most common STD’s and most frequently asked questions regarding the infections. Knowledge based test goes with the program.

WE SUPPORT ABSTINENCE ONLY EDUCATION!

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